Streaming is a nice way to watch your favorite movies and TV shows, but a Blu-ray player gives you the best picture quality and sound quality. The best Blu-ray players let you watch movies from the comfort of your own home in a way that nothing else can. And since you’re not limited by your internet speed or data, you’ll never have to deal with buffering like you might on Netflix.
There are two kinds of Blu-ray players on the market right now: 1080p Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray. Both are better than a regular DVD player, but getting a 4K model will let you play both kinds of Blu-rays and give you access to the best picture quality formats, such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, DTS:X, and HDR10. And if you’re a real hoarder, all Blu-ray players will also work with your old DVD and CD libraries.
There are no problems with streaming apps like dropouts, speed caps, or having to wait for the video to load. But if you don’t mind those problems, most of the best Blu-ray players can work with your favorite streaming service, like Netflix (some even in 4K), Amazon Prime Video, or Hulu.
Best Blu-ray Players Comparison Table
| Model | Dolby Vision | HDR10+ | HDR10 | DTS:X | Dolby Atmos | SACD | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic DP-UB420 | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | $$$$ |
| Panasonic DP-UB820 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $$$$$ |
| Sony UBP-X700 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | $$$ |
| Sony BDP-S3700 | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | $$ |
| LG UBK90 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | $$$$ |
Panasonic DP-UB420
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Model | DP-UB420 |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 16.9375 x 2.25 x 8 inches |
| Weight | 3.6 pounds |
| Supported Disc Formats | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, and CD |
| Audio Formats Supported | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, and more |
| Video Formats Supported | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) |
| Wi-Fi Connectivity | Yes |
The Panasonic DP-UB420 is the best player we’ve tried if you want the best picture from your Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. With the other players we tried, 4K video looked pretty much the same, but this model’s optional HDR Optimizer feature made the picture look better on most HDR screens. The DP-UB420 also does a better job of upscaling Blu-ray and DVD discs, so all of your movies will look good on it. It works with the high dynamic range types HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, but not Dolby Vision. It also has apps for Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video.
HDR Optimizer is one of the things that makes the player stand out. Most movies on 4K Ultra HD discs have some bright spots that can’t be shown on modern screens. There are a few ways a display can handle these bright highlights. Most of the time, the display clips the highlight so that the whole highlight turns white and you lose clarity. You can tell the DP-UB420 what kind of display you have, and it will make the highlights less bright so you can see them better. Thus, this is one of the best Blu-ray players that you can buy right now.
Pros
- Supports various audio and video formats.
- Wi-Fi connectivity for streaming.
- Built-in streaming apps.
- Compact and lightweight.
Cons
- Price may be high for some users.
- Limited disc format support.
Panasonic DP-UB820
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Model | DP-UB820 |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 16.93 x 2.25 x 8 inches |
| Weight | 3.6 pounds |
| Supported Disc Formats | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, and CD |
| Audio Formats Supported | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, and more |
| Video Formats Supported | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) |
‘The DP-UB820 also has a front-panel display, which the DP-UB420 doesn’t have, and it has analog audio ports for the few people who still need them. But adding these things makes the price go up a lot, which may not be worth it for many people. Overall, this is one of the best Blu-ray players that you can buy right now.
Unlike our previous Sony picks that supported Dolby Vision, the DP-UB820 automatically turns it on and off for each title, so you don’t have to worry about the picture quality getting worse if you accidentally leave the setting on or off. This makes it easier to figure out how to use the DP-UB820 every day.
Pros
- HDR Optimizer for better HDR performance.
- HCX Processor for high-quality image processing.
- Supports various audio and video formats.
Cons
- Higher price point.
Sony UBP-X700
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sony |
| Model | UBP-X700 |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 17 x 2.13 x 10.04 inches |
| Weight | 4 pounds |
| Supported Disc Formats | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, and CD |
| Audio Formats Supported | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, and more |
| Video Formats Supported | HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) |
With a software update coming out later this year, the Sony X700 will be able to play Dolby Vision-encoded discs. This gives owners of DV-capable TVs a sense of security for the future. For now, this is one of the best Blu-ray players that you can buy right now.
The LG UP870 and the Oppo UBP-203, which are cheaper and only play discs, are not as good as the Sony UBP-X700, which plays both discs and streams. It’s pretty fast, has all the apps you need, and takes excellent pictures.
“But what about the Sony X800?” you might ask, since that phone isn’t going anywhere. Both Sony players work about the same. The more expensive one has a better-looking box and slightly better DVD performance, but that’s about it. With a $50 savings and the promise of Dolby Vision in the future, there’s no real reason not to buy the X700. But you don’t need streaming? Save some money and get the LG UP870, which is just as good.
Pros
- Supports various audio and video formats.
- Wi-Fi connectivity for streaming.
- Built-in streaming apps.
- Compact design.
Cons
- Limited HDR format support.
- No HDR Optimizer.
Sony BDP-S3700
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 9.1 x 1.5 x 7.8 inches |
| Weight | 1.76 pounds |
| Output | HDMI |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Streaming Services | Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Amazon Video, and more |
| Blu-ray/DVD Upscaling | Yes |
| Miracast | Yes |
Even though Sony doesn’t plan to make a 4K Blu-ray player until at least 2017, they still sell a lot of old 1080p Blu-ray players. There are high-end ones, like the $350 UHP-H1, and more affordable ones, like the BDP-S3700. Still, this is one of the best Blu-ray players that you can buy right now.
We tested PlayStation Now by connecting a PS4 controller to a computer’s USB port and playing adventure games like Uncharted. On the other hand, first-person shooters with a lot of action were too slow to be competitive. This is likely due to both the streaming site and the player. There were also bugs. The “relaxing” puzzle game Flower became jarring to play quickly because of loud noise pops and pixelation.
Pros
- Built-in Wi-Fi for easy streaming
- Upscales standard DVDs to near-HD quality
- Miracast allows for wireless screen mirroring
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Limited app selection compared to other streaming devices
- No support for Dolby Vision HDR
LG UBK90
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 16.9 x 1.8 x 8.1 inches |
| Weight | 3.6 pounds |
| Output | HDMI |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Streaming Services | Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Video, and more |
| Blu-ray/DVD Upscaling | Yes |
| Dolby Vision HDR | Yes |
| 4K Ultra HD Resolution | Yes |
LG’s UBK90 is our top choice if you want to watch your favorite Hollywood blockbusters in full 4K HDR glory without getting lost in a manual. This Blu-ray player is the newest version of a long-time favorite. It has a intense-low price and HDR10 and Dolby Vision, which its predecessors didn’t have.
It can play almost any audio file, including Dolby Atmos, but it doesn’t work with DTS:X, which is an object-based format that competes with Dolby Atmos. The Sony UBP-X700 is the way to go if you want DTS:X at a great price. Thus, this is one of the best Blu-ray players that you can buy right now.
Pros
- 4K Ultra HD resolution for the ultimate viewing experience
- Built-in Wi-Fi for easy streaming
- Upscales standard DVDs to near-HD quality
Cons
- Higher price point compared to other Blu-ray players
- Limited app selection compared to other streaming devices
FAQs
A Blu-ray player is a piece of technology that can play Blu-ray discs. Blu-ray discs are high-definition optical discs that can hold more information than DVDs.
When looking for a Blu-ray player, you should look for features like 4K resolution support, HDR compatibility, Wi-Fi connectivity, streaming services (like Netflix and Hulu), and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio support.
Yes, you can play DVDs on a Blu-ray player because most Blu-ray players are compatible with DVDs. But a Blu-ray player won’t make DVDs look any better than a regular DVD player.
